TRENTON
- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal
Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced
that a Camden County woman has been indicted
for allegedly calling in phony prescriptions
for drugs to various pharmacies while she
was employed at several different physicians’
offices.
According
to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Riza
Dagli, Roberta Wells, 39, of Bellmawr, was
charged with second-degree health care claims
fraud, third-degree theft by deception,
third-degree obtaining a controlled dangerous
substance by fraud, and fourth-degree obtaining
prescription legend drugs by fraud.
The state grand jury indictment returned
Thursday, May 13, alleges that between Jan.
19, 2005 and June 9, 2008, Wells provided
false and misleading information to various
pharmacies, causing the pharmacies to bill
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield more than
$13,000 for prescription drugs to which
Wells was not entitled. Wells allegedly
caused the pharmacies to fraudulently bill
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield for controlled
dangerous substances and for legend drugs.
It is alleged that, by creating the false
impression that physicians had prescribed
the various medications for her and/or members
of her family, Wells fraudulently obtained
the prescription medications as well as
$3,950 in prescription benefits from Horizon
Blue Cross Blue Shield.
An
investigation by the Office of the Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor determined that on more
than 285 separate occasions, medicines were
dispensed in Wells’ name or the name
of her husband or children, without legitimate
medical authorization.
Detective Kristi Procaccino and Deputy Attorney
General Steven B. Farman were assigned to
the investigation. Deputy Attorney General
Farman presented the case to the state grand
jury.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum
sentence of 10 years in state prison and
a criminal fine of $150,000, while third-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of five
years in state prison and a criminal fine
of $15,000. The third-degree crime of obtaining
CDS by fraud carries a potential fine of
up to $50,000. Fourth-degree crimes carry
a maximum sentence of 18 months in state
prison and a criminal fine of $10,000. In
addition, Wells may face the imposition
of civil insurance fraud fines.
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